Moneycorp said in an emailed statement: "The reason for our higher airport rates is the significant cost associated with operating there - from ground rent and additional security, to the cost of staffing the bureaux for customers on early and late flights."

"An easy and more cost-effective way for customers to buy travel money is to pre-order online and collect at the airport," Moneycorp said.

The dollar rates weren't much better. The survey found that travellers were getting rates as low as $0.97 to the pound from ForExchange at Cardiff airport.